Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) implemented in palliative care (PC) are illustrated here through a case study of a patient suffering from metastatic pancreatic cancer from his admission to the palliative unit until his death, including contact with his family.
Through a review of the literature on the concept of mindfulness and the various interventions that exist and have been used in PC, the article outlines those that were used in this case. Which MBIs have been studied and what benefits have been demonstrated for the caregiver, for the caregiver-patient relationship, and for the patient in a PC setting? The two main MBI formats, group and individual, are explored here through different authors as to their relevance for use.
Keywords
Palliative care, MBIs (mindfulness-based interventions), Spiritual care
What is already known about the topic?
Palliative care and mindfulness in their current sense have existed for some fifty years. Some mindfulness-based interventions in the palliative context have been used and studied in the past.
What does this article bring up for us?
The article provides a synthesis of the literature on existing mindfulness-based interventions that are relevant in a palliative care context, illustrated by a clinical case.